Fernando Alonso says he has not been surprised by McLaren’s performance through the first two races of the 2018 Formula 1 seaso🅰n, believingꦗ the team has made a “very good start” to the year.

Alonso finished fifth in Australia and seventh last time out in Bahrain, leaving him fourth in the drivers’ championship and the team third in 𓄧the teams’ standings after the opening two ro⛄unds of the season.

McLaren had high hopes heading into the new campaign after splitting with former engine partner Honda after three difficult y🐻ears in order to pick up a supply from Renault fo🤡r 2018.

While the team has failed to bridge the gap to the ‘big tꦕhree’ - Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull - at the front of the pack, Alonso says McLaren’s performance has been as expected as it fights towards the front of the close F1 m🍰idfield.

“Not really, we didn’t have any big surprises,” Alonso said. “We’re third in the constructors championship, fourth in the drivers champions🦄hip - maybe not 🦹on performance.

“I don’t know exactly what the people were expecting, from one season to another, when the regulations stay the same, and there are three teams ahead of everyone last year. This year they keep ahead ofജ ever🌺yone.

“Last year in three races, [we had] zero♌ points. Bahrain last year, Stoffel [Vandoorne] didn’t make the start. On the grid, he was pulling the car into the pitlane. This year, two races, four cars to the chequered flag.

“As I said, look at the facts not the feel⛄ings or the wishes or the dreams. If we see the acts, this is a very good star🃏t.”

Alonso has also been impressed by McLaren’s level of reliability and operational per♔formance, claiming the team is the only one yet to face any issues so far this season.

“We didn’t have any mechanical failures, we didn’t have any o🐷perational failures. I think we’re the only team now,” ꦉAlonso said.

“With pit stop problems for Ferrari and Haa𓂃s, and Red Bull retireཧments, now there’s only one team remaining with no issues at all: that’s only McLaren,” Alonso said.

“𒐪Even Merced💮es changed their gearbox a couple of times. This could change quite quickly, but so far, the start of the season is very positive.

“I understand the expectations are 🧜difficultꦗ to meet when we’re talking about McLaren and a championship fight.”